Iranian woman ‘jailed for 20 years’ for removing headscarf
29 people were arrested in February for protesting against Iran’s strict Islamic dress code

An Iranian woman says she has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for taking off her headscarf in public during protests against the government.
Writing on her personal website, Shapark Shajarizadeh claimed that she had been jailed for “opposing the compulsory hijab” and “waving a white flag of peace in the street”.
There has as yet been no official comment from Iranian officials and a spokesperson for the Iranian embassy in London could not confirm the claim to The Independent.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Police arrested 29 women, including Shajarizadeh, in February for removing their headscarves as part of a campaign known as “White Wednesdays”, to protest against Iran’s strict Islamic dress code.
A wave of anti-government demonstrations that swept Iran in January was driven by concerns over rising living costs and a stagnant economy, “but also provided an opening for Iranian women to push for equal rights” says CNN.
It led to “Iran’s most robust debate about both women’s rights and religious restrictions in the four decades since the fall of the Shah”, The New Yorker reports.
Speaking to Amnesty International, Shajarizadeh’s lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh, claims she was subjected to torture and beatings after her arrest. She was released on bail in late April, but her current whereabouts were unknown, says Time.
At the time of the arrests, Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that their actions were incited by foreigners, saying those arrested were “deceived” into removing their hijabs.
But Masih Alinejad, the Iranian activist behind the “White Wednesday” social media campaign against mandatory hijabs, who is now based in the US, told CNN that the movement has not been influenced from abroad.
“The movement started inside Iran. It has nothing to do with forces outside of Iran," Alinejad said. “This is a campaign that’s been going on for years and years. The women of Iran have long been ignored. We're just giving them a platform.”
The Conversation says the hijab “has an important place in the power dynamic between society and the ruling Iranian regime”. Women have been legally required to wear the hijab since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, and risk a fine or imprisonment if they remove it in public.
A newly released report by the Iranian government suggests that 49% of the population are against the country’s compulsory hijab law, although the real number is likely to be higher.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The countries around the world without jury trials
The Explainer Legal systems in much of continental Europe and Asia do not rely on randomly selected members of the public
-
How did the Wagner Group recruit young British men for arson attack?
Today's Big Question Russian operatives have been using encrypted messaging apps to groom saboteurs across Europe
-
The best graphic novels
The Week Recommends These inventive illustrated books will transport you to another world
-
IAEA: Iran could enrich uranium 'within months'
Speed Read The chief United Nations nuclear inspector, Rafael Grossi, says Iran could be enriching uranium again soon
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
Iran nukes program set back months, early intel suggests
Speed Read A Pentagon assessment says US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites only set the program back by months, not years. This contradicts President Donald Trump's claim.
-
Trump says Iran and Israel agreed to ceasefire
Speed Read This followed a night of Israeli airstrikes on Tehran and multiple waves of missiles fired by Iran
-
How developed was Iran's nuclear program and what's left now?
Today's Big Question Israel and the United States have said different things about Iran's capabilities
-
Trump gives himself 2 weeks for Iran decision
Speed Read Trump said he believes negotiations will occur in the near future
-
What would a US strike on Iran mean for the Middle East?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION A precise attack could break Iran's nuclear programme – or pull the US and its allies into a drawn-out war even more damaging than Iraq or Afghanistan
-
US says Trump vetoed Israeli strike on Khamenei
Speed Read This comes as Israel and Iran pushed their conflict into its fourth day